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GPSTest?
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The US can (as in has the technical ability) reduce the accuracy for civilian users, Bill Clinton decided in 2000 to stop doing it.
There are currently 3 major other players in the field of global navigation systems: the European Union (Galileo), Russia (GLONASS) and China (BeiDou). Japan also has a system (QZSS), but it is only available in Eastern Asia/Oceania and India is working on its own.
Since modern versions of geolocation receivers use a combination of all of those providers, it is now nearly impossible for a single operator to hold the world hostage (but it has been possible in the past when only the US had an operational system).
If you want to see which systems your phone connects to, you can use the GPStest Android app.
E: word
If your device is supported it will work automatically. You can try this app and see if they show up https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
If your phone wasn't on the list it's still very possible your phone supports it but they haven't yet, or won't, update it to enable it. Then your only hope is a custom ROM that may enable it.
I got a new phone last week, and was really excited for some reason to see Galileo pop up on my phone using a GPS testing app.
Probably one of the coolest things from the EU in recent years. Accurate to the public up to 1 meter as well!
if you have a phone that has a soc in the same generation as the snapdragon 820 it should be capable of receiving galileio. (and later) later I think the Kirin 950 also is capable of it.
I do not know about mediatek samsung and apple socs. And you need android 7 or higher
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
that app should be able to see the satellite signals.
There's an Android app you can use to check if your phone can handle Galileo apparently, called GPSTest.
I can't tell if it does though, because my phone can't handle Galileo.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Just here to correct a misunderstanding.
Cell phones are really connecting to GPS satellites. On Android you can even use an app like this one to see which satellites your phone is using. This information isn’t exposed by iOS.
Phones use the techniques you mention in addition to GPS satellites. Using a combination of satellites and ground-based systems is called Assisted GPS. All modern smartphones are doing it this way.
Still skeptical? If you take your phone to an area with no cellular service or disable cellular by activating airplane mode your phone will still get a GPS location. It takes longer (sometimes minutes) to get an accurate location because the phone has to find satellites on its own without the help of Assisted GPS. If you’ve pre-downloaded some maps in Google Maps, you can even use your phone to navigate in areas where there’s no cell service.
Are you (and your wife) using the stock ROM? I've seen a few comments about GPS not working in LineageOS on some models.
GPSTest allows you to Inject Time or XTRA data, I don't know if your "GPS Status" does that.
I agree with the cellular network time accuracy.
I suggest for Android users to get GPSTest or similar that will show you the time directly from the GPS satellites by the second and that again is very accurate for GPS to work in the first place.
For the data connection. Find WiFi that was the lowest ping time using speed tests. You may be on a gigabit connection but if the ping time is 100 ms or more, you are at a disadvantage. I haven’t tried it myself but maybe attach an Ethernet cable using USB-C to Ethernet adapters or for the iPhone https://www.apple.com/shop/product/HMJU2ZM/A/belkin-ethernet-power-adapter-with-lightning-connector
Restart the phone, close other apps and good luck!
They use several systems. makes it easier and faaster to get an accurate location.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
You can download this app (in android) and it will thell you the satellites you phone can hear and the system they belong to (in the form of a flag)
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Mine (samsung A8) is able to listen to GPS and GLONASS
Or better yet, GPSTest from Google Play or from F-Droid; it's the only one that'll give you country flags for the satellites (along with distinguishing constellations in the elevation/azimuth chart) and multiple entries if your phone is L1 and L5 capable.
Whoever wants to test for himself, this is the app https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest . Seems to be the recommended app for testing, by the ESA. Phone is on latest May patch.
This is for compass, I don't think GPS need/can be calibrated. Actually these phones should have dual-band GPS with great accuracy.
Test with
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en_US&gl=US
what's the result?
Any chance you could try GPSTest (other sources) and see if it shows any Galileo or Beidou satellites in Kenya? (Please try it in a location with a clear sky view, not with tall buildings/trees or indoor.)
Any chance you could try GPSTest (other sources) and see if it shows any Galileo or Beidou satellites in Italy? (Please try it in a location with a clear sky view, not with tall buildings/trees or indoor.)
Sync your watch before running to be able to find GPS satellites quickly anywhere. A Garmin watch can track running activities anywhere without needing to update maps. About the only thing that changes is the time zone while traveling that might cut off a walking or activity streak. You could test whether there is an improvement adding Glonass or Galileo. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en
try this out, if you have an internet connection should sort you out.
https://piunikaweb.com/2019/02/08/xiaomi-uses-state-owned-china-telecom-a-gps-provider-but-why/
Also install https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en let it run while outside for a couple minutes and post the results.
TA-1046 in The Netherlands, I can't see any actual data from the Galileo satellites. How did you check? Do you get actual signal strength data from them?
Using this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
I see them show up during start of the app, much like in the other popular GPS test applications. But as I let the phone sit, I notice that there is no signal information from the Galileo satellites and they disappear from the listing.
The qualcomm website sais there is certainly support for Galileo in the chipset though:
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-660-mobile-platform
>Also, it takes a long time before it finds my location when navigating. Like 5 minutes.
This sounds like a device-specific bug, or you're in an urban canyon (no view of horizon, limited view angle of surrounding landscape). If your device runs on Android then I suggest trying GPSTest (also available on F-Droid), see if the Inject options in the hamburger menu help decrease your Time To First Fix.
What you could do (if security isn't an issue) is set your device down in a space with a clear sky view a few minutes before you start navigating. A stationary device tends to get a fix faster.
And if you use GPSTest (not to be confused with GPS Test) it will also show you Galileo (and Beidou) satellites if your phone supports them (in general GPS Test is a more full-featured app, but doesn't get regularly updated).
> El celular se queda sin datos y deja de andar la ubicación, es raro pero pasa.
Eso depende del celular, la mayoria de los celulares modernos usan AGPS (Assisted GPS), que usa internet para acelerar el tiempo en que se obtiene la señal de GPS, pero no es necesario tener internet para que ande.
Podes probar si tu fono recibe bien la señal de los satelites con una app como GPS Test, la instalas, apagas el wifi y los datos, la abris y te fijas si podes obtener tu latitud y longitud, y si la precision es la misma que cuando lo haces con datos.
This is probably too late - but OP - i hope you get to see this.
I use an app called GPSTest (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest) that gives super accurate stats on cruising altitude, speed, etc. It only works if you sit at the window seat, as the signals fall drastically even at the middle seat. It's completely airplane mode safe (just make sure location is on).
Bonus tip: Google maps works too. So if you download the map area that you want to study before hand, you can even figure out what you're seeing below (roads, water bodies). Again - only on window seats.
Bonus tip 2: You can also use Skeye or Sky Map to identify stars at night.
I full on geek out whenever I fly!
If you want to know which GNSS satellites your device can see, check out this app (ironically named GPSTest).
For me, I can see EU, US, Chinese and Russian ones, which makes sense since those are the ones with global coverage and I am not within coverage of the Indian or Japanese system.
If anyone has an Xperia 1 IV, could you please use the GPSTest app, and see if any L5 or E5a entries show up under the CF column? Thanks.
It depends on the country you are. I suggest to download this app GPStest https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest It's great since it shows you the satellites constellations per type. For example when I go on the country side by this app i could see that GNSS is best (Glonass), or when i change country for work i let this app run to see what's best coverage. Of course tiring...since again my smartphone can almost fix under water and in buildings ! So I'd love to see an option to use it.
Does GPSTest show any Galileo or BeiDou satellites? (It's only showing GPS/Navstar and GLONASS and QZSS for those I've seen. Please try in an open area with good sky view.)
Within Developer options (if enabled), is there a setting for Wi-Fi scan throttling? (I don't see it in 10.)
Does GPSTest show any Galileo or BeiDou satellites? (It's only showing GPS/Navstar and GLONASS and QZSS for those I've seen. Please try in an open area with good sky view.)
Within Developer options (if enabled), is there a setting for Wi-Fi scan throttling? (I don't see it in 10.)
Any chance you could please try GPSTest (other sources) and see what it displays? Does it show any Galileo or Beidou satellites? (Please try it in a location with a clear sky view, not with tall buildings/trees or indoor.)
I'd like to update to fix my Bluetooth issues, but lack of navigation would be a showstopper.
What does GPSTest (other sources) display? Does it show any Galileo or Beidou satellites? (Please try it in a location with a clear sky view, not with tall buildings/trees or indoor.)
I'd like to update to fix my Bluetooth issues, but lack of navigation would be a showstopper.
Somewhat offtopic, by any chance, is your device able to see Galileo satellites? (are you in a location in Europe other than Cyprus?)
Question for you: are you able to see Galileo satellites in Europe when using GPSTest? Or only GPS and GLONASS (with maybe a sprinkling of QZSS)?
Seems fine to me on my Wifi s6 lite
Installed this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en_GB
Got a lock in about 4 seconds, sat inside by a window, grey cloudy sky, slightly raining outside.
> Aside from GPS
You know most high-end phones nowadays listen to beacons from the EU/Russian/Japanese/Chinese/Indian alternative of GPS to get more accurate triangulation, right?
Ref: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
Please run this app in clear skies and wait for some L5/E5a satellites to lock on:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en_US
And then post a screenshot. Really, I'm just curious to see which constellations are functional (are you in the USA?) and what the error level/accuracy is.
It is being used, I filtered all Satellites by 'Used in Fix' and it still showed up. Check this Link
Edit: I have used GPSTest App
In addition to the security patch changing from 2020-06-01 to 2020-08-01, here's how the Kernel value changed:
"KernelFull": "Linux localhost 4.14.117-perf #1 SMP PREEMPT Mon Jun 22 20:49:36 KST 2020 aarch64", "KernelFull": "Linux localhost 4.14.117-perf #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Jul 24 17:35:11 KST 2020 aarch64",
I'm still not seeing Galileo or BeiDou (only been in the US while having this phone), anyone see them?
Huh looks like some phones are using it already, most of new Snapdragon phones with Android 7 and higher should have support for Galileo.
Unfortunately my Samsung with Exonos CPU that is sold in Europe, Russia and Africa, sometimes US (Snapdragon is in the rest of the world), appears to have only Glonass and GPS support. Samsung makes great phones but sometimes I'm so disappointed with them it's hard to describe even.
Link to the app I checked this with: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
Localization systems that your phone picks up currently are shown as a list on "status" tab/page.
Report back, I'm wondering if it's Samsung being assholes or is it generally neglected by other manufacturers too. Would be sad if that's the case.
Consider it like a plumbing problem; the data needs to flow and somewhere there's a stoppage.
Does your phone have a decent view of the sky? Humans are bags of mostly water, which means huddling over the device can also block signal, just like cliffs or sometimes dense forest (particularly if most of the satellites happen to be closer to the horizon at the time).
When did you last get a location? If you travel a great distance with it off the phone might even have to do a cold start, which can take at least 12+ minutes to download the almanac data from the satellites. (This is why it's good to make sure you can get a fix at the trailhead or when driving up.)
Perhaps the app itself is confused; try restarting it, and the phone too if that didn't help. If you were getting a fix earlier on your hike, it's either this or the first point. Having a second app that can at least display your coordinates is a way to narrow things down. I use a second mapping app on my iPhone, but on Android GPSTest is good for diagnostics.
Interesting. Can you give this app a shot? Also try this app GPS Test and choose the clear aiding data option, and then inject time, and inject xtra data. This will clear the A GPS data on your phone and hopefully get you going again. Send a screenshot of the app if it's still not working after that.
Até onde sei a maioria dos celulares atuais já suporta vários dos sistemas. O meu (Motorola One Vision, que não é grande coisa) recebe GPS, glonass, Beidou e Galileo. Os lançados há uns dois anos em geral recebem todos estes menos Galileo. Este site oficial lista os dispositivos que já usam o Galileo: https://www.usegalileo.eu/ Tem vários apps que listam quais satélites teu telefone está recebendo. O que eu mais gosto é muito simples e é o https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest Obs: tem que estar em ambiente externo pra receber bem o sinal.
I'm sure the pixel 4 XL has dual band GPS so this doesn't sound normal. Download this app and check what your phone connects to. L1 should show up and if L5 does that means it dual band which means higher accuracy
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
You can test it easily with a free app in google's play store, for instance GPSTest. Just start and watch the flags shown besides the found satellites. Galileo is the European navigation system and supported by most new devices, just like the Chinese Beidou and the Russian GLONASS. Thanks for helping! :)
Can you install GPSTest, wait for a GPS lock and take a screenshot? I would love to know if any L5 values appear in the CF column. If they do then you've just confirmed dual frequency GPS support on these phones.
GpsTest https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
I also have the paid version of GPS status. Normally I'm on the east coast of the U.S., but was on travel on the west coast when I switched it on, so it may have been a false confirmation since I'm normally not in the QZSS footprint.
>https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
In my case, when I open a GPS Info app, I can't see Galileo satellites, is like they are not there by default when opening a GPS app. After 30-90 seconds, like 4-5 appear and I connect to them.
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My device is a Pixel 2, location Barcelona.
>If I open up Google maps it works fine.
I don't think Google Maps reveals whether it's using GPS or network location or both.
If you run GPSTest, do you get a table in the Status view and a chart in the Sky view?
Is there any chance you could confirm whether the Galileo positioning system is supported? I have read conflicting statements about this on various forums. To check you can download this app from the play store and see whether it is picking up readings from the Europe Satellites. Cheers! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
There's another GPS Test app with support for Galileo. But you need compatible device and supported Android version:
I used this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
Has the most user-friendly interface imo
It's called GPStest. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
Could you try GPSTest and post some screenshots to GitHub or Google Groups? Sean Barbeau is wondering what the output looks like.
Edit: APK link (in case you can't access Google Play Store); tagging /u/sjbarbeau (in case he's checking reddit).
If you're on Android, use GPSTest app.
I use GPSTest
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en_US&gl=US
I've only ever seen GPS, Glonass, SBAS (131, 133, 138), and QZSS satellites on my X4. The chipset in the Moto X4 is capable of Galileo (and Beidou for that matter, although FCC doesn't allow Beidou to be used), however Motorola locks it out somehow when in the USA. I've seen other discussions where they start getting tracked over the ocean on the plane ride to Europe or Asia. Curios if the lockout is in the driver, or in Android. The FCC changed its ruling on utilizing Galileo after the X4 was released, I was hoping Moto would push an update to allow it but they haven't. I'm guessing its due to feature licensing with Qualcomm, the more functionality of the chipset used, the more Moto has to pay to Qualcomm. That's why I was hoping it could be unlocked in a third party ROM somehow. If it's in the driver, then we may be out of luck. I think they're just a binary provided by Qualcomm/Moto, and cannot be edited. Just seems very complex to me that they would implement a geo-fence to limit usage.
https://www.qualcomm.com/products/snapdragon-630-mobile-platform
I'm sure other phones are the same issue. If we could figure out how to unlock these capabilities, it would benefit a lot of people.
The one in my screenshot is called GPStest
Use GPSTest, it's open source as well and probably the best app for detailed GPS info
It's not exactly the same app, but this one looks very similar: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en_US
Download GPSTest and look at the maps of the used satellites.
I think GPSTest https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest&hl=en_US or https://f-droid.org/packages/com.android.gpstest.osmdroid/ don't. But I didn't looked the source- code https://github.com/barbeau/gpstest.
Something I don't recall seeing documented here or in Tasker's documentation or FAQ:
Some of you might be using the Wifi Near state. It mentions "A seen AP which is no longer visible for approximately two times the scan period is forgetten.". There's also a FAQ about it.
Android Pie introduces a limitation on WifiManager.startScan() calls. Specifically:
- Foreground: 4 scans every 2 minutes; the minimum seconds for Wifi Scan is 25, so this shouldn't be (much) of an issue. (It'd probably behoove João to raise the limit to 30, so that ~25% of scans wouldn't be skipped.)
- Background: 1 scan every 30 minutes
So, unless Pent/João is using some other method for Wifi Near, you definitely need to be running Tasker in foreground if you're using Wifi Near in Pie. OTOH, I don't know if it's even possible to run Tasker in background in Pie.
One interesting side-effect of this is that, given a walking speed of 1.4 m/s (84 m/minute), a navigation app using "High Accuracy" location without GPS/GNSS satellite visibility should NOT have accuracy less than about 42 m. If you're running Pie and can navigate with it without satellite location (e.g. some indoor sites, between tall buildings), I'm curious as to what accuracy Google Maps shows and how often it updates. Any volunteers?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest gives more information.
GPSTest also has a function to clear assist data and is ad-free and open source.
As seen on the Google Play page (and elsewhere; the Google Groups page linked earlier has multiple screenshots that people have posted, along with the GitHub page's Issues):
- Status should display a table of "visible" satellites, including Identifier, country flag, signal strength, bit-flags (Almanac, Ephemeris, Used), elevation (90=straight up, 0=horizon), azimuth (0=360=north, 90=east). It also has an upper section with current status.
- Sky view should show each satellite: center is elevation of 90, outermost ring is elevation of 0, arrowhead is azimuth of 0 or 360, shape indicates flag, color indicates signal level, thick border indicates Used bit flag. But if the Status table is empty, the Sky view will be empty, and if any row in the table lacks elevation or azimuth (which, from what I've seen from screenshots, applies to all SBAS satellites), that satellite won't be represented.
From what I can see, GPSTest is intended to give you all of the location details that the Android API provides, so that you can determine if your device's Location services are working correctly; it's also small so you don't have the big loading time and memory requirements of a larger app. Other apps might not implement Location correctly, this app can help determine whether an arbitrary location-using app is buggy or if your device is giving bad results. Obviously, if GPSTest has its own bugs that block its use on the Mi 8 (and perhaps other BCM47755-using devices), it can't help. :)
Edit: See the FAQ for the author's explanation of it.
Edit: This screenshot shows a variety of GNSS types in the Sky view.
You can check with GPSTest
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.android.gpstest
Does not find any Galileo sats for me, so I am guessing no and it never will